BITS OF HISTORY (DECEMBER 29)

1940: German aircraft dropped thousands of incendiary bombs on London's city centre, causing the most damaging blaze since the Great Fire of 1666.

1978: Spain's new democratic constitution, providing for a constitutional monarchy and parliamentary government, takes effect.

1996: Guatemala's government and leftist rebels signed a peace accord ending 36 years of war that cost at least 140,000 lives.